Learn to interact with families in ways that promote family functioning when a family member is dying. Family-Based Palliative Care is an insightful book that aims to increase professionals’understanding of the family as client. Authoritative contributors who are experienced in working with the terminally ill present the most current theory, practice, and research related to family-based care of hospice patients.

Each readable chapter includes a wealth of information that can be applied to health care settings in which holistic care is a priority. The first chapter presents a conceptual framework for caring for families of the terminally ill as well as clinical examples that are used to illustrate the application of the framework in practice. Experts describe four research studies--two qualitative studies that examine sources of stress for caregivers and identify the resources used by families to manage at home; a methodological study that explores the positive and negative aspects of family caregiving; and a case study that evaluates a hospice staff’s efforts in providing family- based care.

Because little research has been done with family caregivers of terminally ill hospice patients, Family-Based Palliative Care will be essential reading for nurses, social workers, hospice staff, and other professionals whose job it is to care for the dying and their families.